Wheel structure



April 27, 1943. G. A. LYON WHEEL STRUCTURE Filed Sept. 29, 1941 PatentedApr. 27, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WHEEL STRUCTURE George AlbertLyon, Allenhurst, N. Application September 29, 1941, Serial No. 412,754

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a wheel structure, and more particularly to awheel cover for a Wheel andv means for detachably retaining the wheelcover on the wheel.

At present, due to the Defense Program, stainless steel is at a premium,and as a consequence manufacturers of stainless steel wheel parts, suchas wheel covers, are endeavorlng to nd substitute materials which willblend in eiectively with the remaining structure of the wheel.

To this end, I have evolved a wheel cover which may be made ofrelatively low carbon steel and which may have an outer ring portionthereof nished in white so as to cause the same to appear as a whiteside wall portion of the tire on the wheel.

-An object of this invention is to provide a simplified wheel cover'which will serve the dual purpose of concealing the bolt-on ange of thewheel and also of giving the tire on the wheel the appearance of havinga White side wall.

Another object of this invention is to provide a wheel cover comprisinga ring and a hub cap with an improved connection between these two partsand which connection can, by reason of its reinforcement, cooperateeifectively with spring retaining means on the wheel.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a cover with asimplified and more effective lockseam connection between thecooperating parts of the wheel cover.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide improved springretaining means cooperating with the flange of a wheel cover in such amanner that the cover may be easily snapped into retained engagementtherewith or can be easily pried free of the spring retaining means.

In accordance with the general features of this invention, there isprovided in a wheel structure including a drop center rim carrying atire and a body part having a bolt-on ange a circular wheel cover membercomprising a ring of curved cross section for disposition over an outerside of the rim and a central disk or hub cap for disposition over thewheel body part to conceal the bolt-on flange thereof, the inner edge ofthe ring being lockseamed to the outer edge of the hub cap to form aninclined flange extending generally radially rearwardly toward the wheelrim and cooperable with spring means on the wheel for the purpose ofretaining the cover member on the wheel.

A-feature of the invention relates to the provision in the abovedescribed structure of a lockseam construction of such character thatthe inner edge portion of the ring of the cover is tightly lockedagainst a rearwardly` offset shoulder on the outer margin of the centralhub cap.

Yet another feature of the invention relates to the provision in theabove described wheel structure of a ring of such curved convex crosssection and which extends radially outwardly over an outer edge of thetire rim up to the side wall of the tire as to cause the ring to havethe appearance of being a continuation of the tire especially when thering is finished in white.

A further feature of the invention relates to the provision of coverretaining spring clips, each of which comprises a iiexible outerextremity retainingly cooperable with a rear flange of the cover memberand an inner extremity wedged in one of the `wheel openings into tightretained cooperation with the wheel; an intermediate portion of the cliphaving a shoulder to bear against the body part of the wheel for thepurpose of limiting the extent to which the inner end of the spring clipcan be inserted in the cooperating wheel opening.

A still further feature of the invention relates to the arrangement ofthe spring clips relative to the cooperating rear ange of the wheelcover, so that the outer extremities of the spring clips, when inretaining cooperation with the rear flange of the cover, force thisflange tightly against an outer surface of the wheel body or spider.

Other objects and features of this invention will more fully appear fromthe following detailed description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing which illustrates a single embodiment thereof, andin which;

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side view of a wheel structure embodying thefeatures of this invention and partly broken away to show thearrangement of the spring retaining clips;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view taken on theline II--II of Figure 1 looking in the direction indicated by thearrows;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view correspondingto the upper right hand portion of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional `detailed view showing the manner inwhich the cooperating edges of the ring and hub cap may be convenientlylockseamed together.

As show-n on the drawing;

The reference character I0 designates'generally a conventional dropcenter type of tire rim which carries a conventional pneumaticautomobile tire I I. The side flanges of the rim I0 have depressions l2formed therein for receiving and holding in place the conventional beadsof the tire II. Disposed centrally of the tire rim and attached theretois the usual wheel body or spider I3 which is attached at a plurality ofspaced points or sections to the bottom or base flange of the rim II]leaving openings I4 between the areas of attachment. These openings,asis well known in the art, are provided for the purpose of allowing airto circulate through the wheel and around the brake drum to the rear ofthe wheel. Also, the wheel body or spider I3 has the usual central wheelbolt-on ange by means of which the wheel is detachably attached to asupport on an axle of the vehicle.

In accordance with the general features of this invention, I provide awheel cover I6 for the outer or exposed side of thewheel which includestwo parts, namely, an annulus or ring I1 and a centrai disk or hub capI8. These parts may be suitably made from sheet metal and by reason ofthe construction of the wheel cover member may be made of relatively lowcarbon steel.

'I'he ring I1, as is clearly shown in Figure 3, is of a convex-concavecross sectional configuration and has a turned or rolled outer edge I9which is so located as to extend radially beyond the outer edge of theconcealed side of the tire rim I0.' This arrangement is such that therolled edge I9 is disposed directly opposite the side wall of the tireadjacent the junction of the side wall with the outer edge 20 of the rimI0. By reason of this arrangement, the trim I1, when it is finished inan eggshell white cover, has the appearance of constituting a portion ofthe side wall of the tire or, in other words, gives the tire theappearance of having a Whiteside wall portion. It should be noted fromFigure 2 that the curvature of the ring I1 is such that it followsgenerally Y the curvature of the side wall of the tire so as to appearin effect to be a continuation of the side wall of the tire.

'Ihe inner marginal portion of the ring I1, as

best shown in Figures 3 and 4, is turned reary wardly and then radiallyoutwardly to-form an inclined edge portion 2 I. The inclination of thisedge portion is such that it points toward the rim I0. It should also benoted that this turned edge 2I is disposed in close proximity to theopenings III in the wheel spider I3.

In order to attach the central disk or hub cap I8 to the ring I1, theouter marginal portion-.of the disk I8 is offset rearwardly et 22 andhas its outer edge 23 bent back over the top of the edge 2| and alongthe rear surface of the edge 2| at 23 thus lockseaming the two coverparts together.

'Ihe offset portion 22 of the disk I8 comprises an annular shoulder enwhich the turned edge portion of the ring I1 is seated to hold the ringcentered relative to the hub cap I8. In fact, the two parts arevlockseamed together with the inner edge portion of the ring I1 tightlywedged against the shoulder 22. l

In assembling the two parts of the cover member together, as best shownin .Figure 4, the ring part I1 is first provided with the turned edge 2I, and the hub cap part I8 is provided with a U- shaped annulardepression of a size and arrangement so that the turned edge 2I of thering may be inserted therein. Thereafter the outer extremity or edge 23of the hub cap part I8 is rolled or bent downwardly over the rearsurface of the edge 2I thus lockseamin'g the two parts together. Thisarrangement is such that one of the rolling wheels or disks can bebrought to bear against the shoulder 22 inside of the part I8 and theother rolling disk may be brought to bear against the edge 23 to bendthe same, as shown in Figure 4, downwardly over and around the edge 2 I.Thus, I have provided a simple way of interlocking the two cooperatingedges of the ring and disk parts of the cover together. In addition,this type of interlock not only holds the parts together in properlycentered relation but also reinforces the cover at the lockseam toprovide an inclined flange 25 cooperable with a plurality ofspring'r'etalning clips 26. The inclination and arrangement of thelockseamed flange 25'is such that it extends obliquely toward the rim I0and is adapted to abut an outer surface of the spider wheel body I3 asbest shown in Figure 3.

Each of the spring clips 26 has an outer portion 21 bent back uponitself to form a loop, the

the outer surface of the wheel spider I3. The

construction of this freely flexible outer end of the spring is suchthat the cover member I6 may be easily snapped into retainingcooperation with the spring clip but is more difficult to remove andrequires a pry-off force to snap it out of retained y engagement withthe spring clips.

The other end of each spring clip 26 is inserted into a wheel opening I4over a flanged portion 3| of the spider defining the opening and has itsextremity bent into a radially inwardly extending flange 29. Thearrangement of this flange 29 is such that its free extremity has abiting engagement at 32 with the flanged portion 3| of the spider.Moreover, any tendency to dislodge the clip from its cooperation withthe two parts of the wheel results in an kenhancement of the bitingengagement at 32 with the portion 3I of the' spider. Moreover, due tothe inclined portion 29 of the clip being flexible the flexing of thisportion is backed up by the portion 33 of the clip bearing on the baseflange 34 of the rim III.,

As noted before, any tendency to pull or dislodge the clip out of thecooperating opening results in the end 32 biting more flrmly into theportion 3|. In order, however, to hold the clip 6 against being pushedtoo far into the opening, I provide the intermediate portion of the clipwith a shoulder 30 which is adapted to bear against the spider I3 thuslimiting the extent to which the clip can be inserted in the cooperatingopening I4 of the wheel body.

These spring clips 26 may be made of any suitable material such, forexample, as spring steel and by reason of the fact that they areseparate from the wheel cover do not require that the cover be made ofspring steel or high carbon steel.

vIn the use of my invention, the spring clips are first positioned inthe of the wheel body, which openings may be four in number or of anydesired number. 'Ihereafter the wheel cover I6 is positioned over theouter side pf the wheel and is pressed inwardly until the edge of theinclined rearward flange 25 thereof contacts the high points of the freeends of the spring clips. Thereafter a slight push on the cover resultsin the camming of the portions 28 of the spring clips radially outwardlyuntil the flange 25 is snapped past the high point behind the edgeportion 28 of the clip and is thus firmly held against the wheel spiderI3 by the tension of the spring clips. It will be appreciated' that' thediameter of the flange 25 is such that the flexible edge portions 28 ofthe spring clips cannot return fully to their normal positions when theflange 25 of the retaining cooperation therewith, and as a conrespectiveopenings I4 wheel cover is in these parts from a common 'sequence theflexible portions 28 are exerting a tensioned pressure on the flange 25.e

To remove the cover from the wheel, it is only necessary to insert theedge of a suitable pryoif tool under the turned reinforced edge I9 ofthe cover member and to pry the cover bodily Vfree from its retainingcooperation with the spring clips 28. This operation does notnecessitate removal of the spring cli-ps from thewheel. nor does itrequire that the wheel cover be made of spring material. Then, too, theutilization of the lockseam between the two partsof the cover as aflange for cooperation with the spring clips provides the cover with areinforced section at its point of engagement with the spring clips.

Also, it should be noted that the construction of the two parts of thewheel cover is such that both of these parts may be blankedgfrom thesame sheet or disk of metal, the part I1 being made from an outerportion of the disk and the part I6 being made from an inner portion ofthe disk or piece of sheet metal. In so blanking disk of metallicvsheet, it should be noted that the part l1 is reversed in position fromthat iii which it is shown in Figure 2, so that after the parts areblanked the ring part I1 is turned to dispose its convex side on thesame side as the convex side of the part I6.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a wheel structure including a drop center rim carrying a tire andra body part having a wheel bolt-on flange, a circular wheel covermember comprising a ring of curved cross section for disposition over anouter side of` the rim and a central hub cap for disposition over thewheel body part to cgnceal the bolt-on ange thereof, the inner edge ofthe ring being lockseamed to the outer edge of the hub cap to form aninclined flange extending generally radially outwardly and axiallyinwardly toward the wheel rim, and spring means cooperating with saidwheel and said iiange to retain detachably said cover member on thewheel. v v

2. In a wheel structure including a drop center rim carrying a tire anda body part having a wheel bolt-on ilange, a circular wheel cover membercomprising a ring of curved'cross section for disposition over an outerside of the rim and a central hub cap for disposition over the wheelbody part to conceal the bolt-on flange thereof,

the inner edge of the ring being lockseamed to the outer edge of the hubcap to form an inclined flange extending generally radially outwardlyand axially inwardly toward the wheel rim, and spring means cooperatingwith said wheel and said ilange to retain detachably said cover memberon the wheel, said ring being of curved convex cross section andextending radially outwardly over an outer edge of the rim up to theside wall of said tire so as to have the appearance of being a whiteside wall portion of the tire.

3. In a wheel structure including a drop eem ter rim carrying a tire anda body part having a wheel bolt-on flange, a circular wheel cover membercomprising a ring of curved cross section for disposition over an outerside of the rim and a central hub cap for disposition over the wheelbody part to conceal the bolt-on flange thereof, the inner edge of thering being loci:-v seamed to the outer edge of the hub cap to form aninclined flange extending generally radially' outwardly and axiallyinwardly toward the wheel rim, and spring means cooperating with saidwheel and said flange to retain detachably said cover member on thewheel, said seam comprising an outer edge of the hub cap turnedoutwardly over an inwardly turned edge of the ring and rolled onto andover the rear surface of said turned inner edge.

4. In a wheel structure including a drop center rim carrying a tire anda body part having a wheel bolt-on flange, a circular wheel cover membercomprising a ring of curved cross section for disposition over an outerside of the rim and a central hub cap for disposition over the wheel-body part to conceal the bolt-on flange thereof.

the inner edge of the ring being lockseamed to the outer edge of the hubcap toform an inclined ange extending generally radially outwardly andaxially inwardly toward the wheel rim, and spring means cooperatinglwith said wheel and said flange to retain detachably said cover memberon the wheel, the outer edge portion of the hub cap being offsetrearwardly s0 as to form an annular shoulder facing the wheel rim andvon which the inner marginal edge portion of the ring is interlocked soas to hold said ring centered, said outer edge of the hub capbeingturned over the inner edge of the ring to lock said inner marginalportion of the ring tightly against said shoulder.

5. In a wheel structure including a drop center rim carrying a tire anda body part having a wheel bolt-on iiange, a circular wheel cover membercomprising a ring of curved cross section for disposition over an outerside oi the rim and a central hub cap for disposition over the wheelbody part to conceal thev bolt-on ilange thereof, the inner edge of thering being lockseamed to the outer edge of the hub cap to form aninclined ange extending generally radially outwardly and axiallyinwardly toward the wheel rim, and spring means cooperating 4with saidwheel and said ange to retain detachably said cover member on the wheel,said spring means comprising a plurality 4of spring clips inserted `inopenings in the wheel body, eachclip having a flexible outer extremityretainingly cooperating with said inclined flange of the cover memberand an inner extremity wedged in one of said openings into tightretained cooperation with the wheel, an intermediate portion of saidclip having a shoulder to bear against the body pant of the wheel tolimit the extent to which the inner end of the spring clip can-beinserted in the cooperating wheel opening.

6. In a wheel structure including a drop center rim carrying a .tire anda body part havingl a Wheel bolt-on flange. a circular wheel covermember comprising a ring of curved cross section for disposition over anouter side of the rim and a central hub cap for disposition over thewheel body part to conceal the bolt-on flange thereof, the inner edge ofthe ring being lockseamed to the outer edge of the hub cap t0 form aflange inclined with respect to the wheel axis and extending rearwardlyfrom the cover member, and spring means cooperating with said wheel andsaid ange to retain detachably said cover member on the wheel.

GEORGE ALBERT LYON.

